DISCOVER YOUR STRENGTHS AND LOVE THEM

We're all good at some things, not great at others. Your strengths can help you soar, your weaknesses can drag you down.

You have to know what they are. So how do you figure it out – and what then?

Do you remember the worst thing someone ever said about you? Chances are it's burnt into your memory and pops up again from time to time. And the best thing ever said about you? You might tend to forget those or downplay them instead of owning them.

Criticism can shatter your confidence even if it's valid, constructive or given with the best intentions. The same goes for self-criticism. Too often we compare ourselves with colleagues, friends, neighbours or those super successful people who seem able to do everything and make us feel like losers. What we should understand instead is that we're all different and that our personalities influence how we do stuff.

GET TO KNOW YOUR PERSONAL PROS AND CONSYour strengths are either things you've always done well or skills you got through experience. Don't take them for granted even if they come naturally. Weaknesses can also be built-in and can hold you back.

How do you get to know your personal pros and cons? Author Jonathan Michael, writing on Bplans.com, suggests asking yourself some questions and making a list – one column strengths, the other your weaknesses.

Ask questions like these, he says: What am I good at, what have others complimented me about, what did I need help with more than once, which projects and tasks seem to drain my energy, which projects have I spent hours on without getting tired, what are my hobbies and why do I like doing them.

LIST YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES WITH YOUR LOVED ONESNow pick three to five people who know you, whose opinion you value and who you think might be as objective as possible. It could be a colleague, mentor, coach, or friend. Ask them what it is about you that they think will contribute to your success. Then, ask them about weaknesses that may cause you to fail. As you listen, tweak your list. You might find they mention things you didn't think of – or they don't bring up things you thought were important.

In the end, you'll have a more balanced list and a clearer view of yourself.

Next is working on weaknesses, right? Wrong. Most experts agree that it's better to focus on your strengths. It will help you see opportunities instead of stumbling blocks. It's positive, whereas focusing on weaknesses could get you down. You can't fix them or shake them off if they're part of you. Instead, find ways to work around them so they don't get in the way.

CELEBRATE YOUR STRENGTHSIt might be a tense moment in a job interview when you're asked about your strengths and weaknesses. Start with the weaknesses and give context with a work-related example. That will show you're self-aware and determined to grow.

Though you can't change what you were born with, you can practice your strengths and become even better. And remember to celebrate your strengths. When you know you're doing a good job, enjoy every minute of it and pat yourself on the back afterward.